It is no longer a surprise; these are unprecedented times. Globally, we have moved from a high dose of social interaction to social distancing. Even though we are physically apart, the work continues to come in. And it needs to get done.

As more companies reallocate their workforce to focus on the coronavirus impact, and you cannot complete your daily tasks, how do you ensure you are serving your customers and colleagues with unmatched delivery?

If you have to complete tasks that are time-sensitive, repeatable, high-volume and routine — things like data entry of new accounts, onboarding and off-boarding employees, balancing ledgers, etc. — you can ensure those tasks are completed even while focusing on more value-adding work or when you have a limited workforce. One answer to solving these issues is Robotic Process Automation (RPA).

How RPA Can Help

So, what is RPA? And, how can it help my organization now or more importantly, long-term?

RPA is one of the latest technologies to hit the marketplace, although it has been around for several years. Using tools such as UiPath, Blue Prism, and Automation Anywhere—  the three leading players in this space — business and IT personnel can create software robots that are no-code or low-code solutions. You can run these robots in attended (typically on a customer agents’ desktop) or unattended (scheduled to run) mode. Both modes deliver the same quality and speed level to allow a business to focus on more customer-centric and value-added solutions.

I am quite sure many organizations will start re-thinking their technology platforms, strategies, Business Continuity Planning (BCP), Work-From-Home (WFH) policies, and more, considering the current health and economic situation. Any changes will require not only an economic investment but also a people investment. Those individuals who have done the routine and repeatable work can now focus on more value-add activities, allowing software bots to handle the mundane tasks.

They can help to:

Automate and accelerate viable processes (data entry to spreadsheets, collecting social media statistics, opening email and saving attachments, filling in online forms your staff can focus on activities that will help:

• Re-establish customer bases

• Improve revenues

• Minimize expenses

• Enhance the quality of data

Be a steppingstone to more automation by taking in machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), artificial intelligence (AI) and other automation functions that will help to create and sustain a long-term automation capability.

Bring relief to a workforce taxed to take on more responsibilities due to staffing decreases associated with the current health crisis, providing them with needed “downtime,” while bots take on some of these additional tasks, allowing the business to continue to operate and succeed.

We do not know how long our new normal is going to last. And while everyone focuses on adjusting to changing times, your timely, repeatable, and rules-based tasks should not become a barrier to your company’s future. With RPA, you and your team can better dedicate your time to what needs to get done now.